SBAS Systems

SBAS systems are spreading out all over the world. More and more, it is believed that upon dual-frequency SBAS service provision, a seamless navigation will be possible from and to any two locations in the world.

Contents

SBAS in the World

SBAS systems either operational, under development or under study

From all the SBAS systems in the world, three are already operational (WAAS, MSAS, EGNOS), three are under implementation (GAGAN, SDCM, SNAS) while others are under feasibility studies, as is the case of SACCSA.

Although under development the GAGAN System can be used by aircrafts for en route navigation and non-precision approaches without vertical guidance, since it is already certified to RNP0.1 service level.

According to the Interoperability Working Group (IWG) of SBAS System several evolutions are expected in the comming years:[1]

GNSS Dual Frequency Operations;

GNSS Multiple-Constellation Operations (Galileo, BeiDou);

EGNOS and MSAS reference network expansion;

SDCM and GAGAN become operational.

When these evolutions are completed it is though that the global SBAS coverage will suffer an increase from the actual 7.54% at 99% (only WAAS, EGNOS and MSAS) to 92.65%, considering the use of multiple-constellation (GPS and Galileo).

Prediction of World Wide SBAS coverage

WAAS

The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was jointly developed by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), beginning in 1994, to provide performance comparable to category I instrument landing system (ILS) for all aircraft possessing the appropriately certified equipment.[2]

On July 10, 2003, the WAAS signal was activated for safety-of-life aviation, covering 95% of the United States, and portions of Alaska.[2] At present, WAAS supports en-route, terminal and approach operations down to a full LPV-200 (CAT-I like Approach Capability) for the CONUS, Mexico and Canada.

SDCM

The System for Differential Corrections and Monitoring (SDCM) is the SBAS currently being developed in the Russian Federation. SDCM is expected to be certified in the coming years, being this just the first step in the SDCM strategy which pursues also other broadcast means –potentially a polar MEO– with the aim of providing also a service to the North part of Russia.

The main differentiator of SDCM with respect to other SBAS systems is that it is conceived as an SBAS augmentation to GPS and GLONASS, whereas the rest of current SBAS initiatives provide corrections and integrity just to GPS satellites.

SDCM planned station network

SNAS

The People's Republic of China is developing its own SBAS, called Satellite Navigation Augmentation System (SNAS). The company Novatel was awarded with a contract for the provision of 12 receivers for the phase 2 of the development in 2002.[4] These stations would complement the 11 ones already installed around Beijing for the phase 1.
There is little public information available on this development.

SACCSA

The SBAS initiative in South/Central America and the Caribbean is called SACCSA (Soluciόn de Aumentaciόn para Caribe, Centro y Sudamérica). SACCSA is an ICAO project founded by the Participants/Member States of the SACCSA Project: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Spain, Venezuela and COCESNA (Corporación Centroamerica de Servicios de Navegación Aérea). The objective is to study the improvement of the Air Navigation Environment in the Caribbean and South America (CAR/SAM) Regions with a SBAS solution.
The program began in 2003 being at present in its Phase III which will determine the feasibility of the implementation of an own SBAS system in the CAR/SAM regions.

References

^Global SBAS Status, Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), Interoperability Working Group(IWG), June 2014